Philippine Stagers Foundation: “a league of their own”

Now on its 11th season, the PHILIPPINE STAGERS FOUNDATION has become one of the premier professional theater companies in the country. Recognized as one of the most awarded theater company which broke all box office records of all theater companies nationwide, PSF (Philippine Stagers Foundation) is more than an ordinary performing group. It is a foundation with a cause with the noble objective of helping the poor, the sick, the elderly and the forgotten through the medium of theater arts. At present, the Foundation has more than fifty (50) High School and College Scholars. Aside from its very active Scholarship Program, the Foundation is consistently handling absolutely free Theater Workshop every summer with more than two hundred (200) participants from various schools in the country. For its regular season runs, the Foundation has also organized out-reach activities at various charitable institutions such as Golden Acres Home for the Aged, Servants of Charity, National Center for Mental Health and Reception Study Center for Children. Through this, Philippine Stagers Foundation is an artistic team with a purpose in the society. Remaining humble and silent despite its phenomenal success, the Foundation has produced several significant and ground-breaking stage plays and smash hits like Mactan 1521, Enzo…Santo, Chi-noi, O’Moises, Pinoy Samurai, Desaparecidos: A Filipino Musicale, Namaste, Ang Makulay na Buhay ni Gandhi and Troy Avenue. It has also made phenomenal ticket-sales, averaging from thirty-five (35) to ninety (150) shows in big venues such as SM Cinemas, UP Theater, St. Scholastica’s St. Cecilias Hall, St. Paul University, Waterfront Hotel, Cebu , AFP Theater Tanghalang Pasigueño, Meralco Theater to name a few.

The aggressiveness of its marketing team remains its inspiration in producing quality plays. Its markets hailed all its plays as spectacular, well-polished and innovative. The Aliw Awards, the only award-giving body in the country honoring live performances, has recognized for numerous times its various stage plays and musicales, as well as its director and cast members. Recently, the company received endorsements from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Education for its contributions not only in theater arts but also to the society. Philippine Stagers Foundation’s success could be attributed to the men and women who comprise the prestigious company. Here’s the list of some of the most famous members of Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF):

vince

VINCE TAÑADA is the Bad Boy of Philippine Theater: He is an award-winning playwright, director and actor. He leads as PSF’s President and Chairman of the Board. After his brief stint as an acting student in New York, he went back to Philippine Theater via ‘Hiblang Abo’, directed by Lou Veloso and staged in CCP. He in 2007 got his first Aliw Award as Best Actor for his portrayal in ‘O’ Moises’ in 2007. The following year he got his second nomination for his acting in ‘Bangkay sa Corintho’. His biggest dream as an actor was realized when he played the role of ‘Ninoy Aquino’ in PSF‘s biggest hit ‘Ako si Ninoy’ in 2009. In 2011, he won the Best Actor award in the Aliw Awards for his superb acting as Peter, a writer inflicted with Parkinson’s disease in ‘Cory ng EDSA’. He portrayed the role of Joecas in the record breaking rock’sical, JOE and this 2013 as the Father of Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio in a sarsuwela entitled ‘Bonifacio’. He is the lead actor in the 2013 Sineng Pambansa entry” Otso” by Elwood Perez.

monique

MONIQUE AZERREDA made raves as a theater actress when she portrayed the role of Helen in Troy Avenue. After that she did ‘Bahay Pula’, ‘Bangkay sa Corintho’, ‘Ako Si Ninoy’, ‘San Vicente, A Zarswela’, 4C-I (AIDS), ‘Pest to Pest’, and ‘Papeng ni Kiko’. In ‘Cory ng EDSA’, she also played the role of Anette. She was part of the production network as stage manager of ‘Babae Po Ako’, sound spinner for the plays ‘San Vicente, A Zarswela’, 2010, ‘Enzo Santo’ and ‘4C-3’. As a writer, she wrote the play I Went to My Funeral, which competed at the PSF Theater Festival, 2011. From 2009 to date, she is also a facilitator for the PSF Annual Summer Workshop. Her recent acting assignment was Rizal’s controversial lover, Josephine Bracken in the play ‘Joe A Filipino Rock’sical’. She is the leading lady of Vince Tañada in the movie “Otso”.

patrick

PATRICK LIBAO started out as Tai-wu in ‘Chi-Noi’, Gary in ‘Lieutenant’s Princess’, Hosue in ‘O’Moises’, Purok in ‘Pinoy Samurai’ and Art in ‘Desaparecidos’. His first big break was in ‘Namaste’ as ‘Gandhi’. His name became a word of mouth in such plays like Troy Avenue as Agammenon, Oscar in ‘Ako si Ninoy’, Biboy in 4c’s ‘Girl Me’, Erwin in ‘Sako’, Damian in ‘Wagas’, Luis in ‘Lahug’, Kiko in ‘Ang Papeng ni Kiko’ and Lemuel Alonzo in ‘Ang Bangkay sa Corintho’. In 2012, he did one of the most challenging roles in his career as an actor, the role of the hard hitting reporter and Parkinson’s disease patient, Peter in the musical ‘Cory ng EDSA’ and as Jose Rizal in ‘Joe, A Filipino Rockssical, Also a playwright, he wrote and directed plays such as ‘Backstage’ and ‘Bahay-Pula’. He also penned ‘Felipa’, ‘Lahug’, ‘Spirits’ and most recently ‘Bala at Krus’.

chris

CHRIS LIM debuted as a theater actor in 1999 when he played the title role of Rene Villanueva’s ‘Kalantiaw’ under Dulaang Bedista of San Beda College. His esteemed performances include the lead roles in Tennessee William’s Glass Menagerie, Anton Checkov’s Ang Bastos to name a few. After college he joined the Dulaang Bedista Alumni Production (Now Known as Philippine Stagers Foundation) and did plays such as Greg in ‘Desaparecidos’, Isko de Ungria in ‘Joe ni Josephine’, Lt. Dante Cervantes in ‘Moro’, Reyna Valmoria/Haring Valenton in ‘Ang Musa ni Proteus’, Magellan in ‘Mactan 1521’, Lazaro in ‘Enzo… Santo’, Crisanto in ‘Josephine’s Joe’, Ton in ‘Mga Kwentong Balic-Balic’, Kwan-Li in ‘Chi-noi’, Attiwan in ‘Pinoy Samurai’, Azad in ‘Namaste’, Senior Segismundo in ‘Ang Bangkay sa Corintho’, flesh eater Gunying in ‘Lahug’, Benjo in ‘Sa Dilaw o Pula’ and Lt. Dalusong in ‘Cory ng Edsa’ and Ambo in Joe ‘A Filipino Rock’sical’. He was also a finalist in the Aliw Awards as Best Director for the play Ang Bangkay sa Corintho. He is one of PSF’s founders and Members of the Board.

gabby

GABBY BAUTISTA’s acting prowess was recognized for his role as Osborne in the multi-awarded musical “Ako si Ninoy”, where he won as the Best Child Performer in the 2009 Aliw Awards. In 2010, he was nominated again for the play “Enzo Santo” in the Aliw Awards as Best Child Performer. His heartfelt performance as Edsa, a young boy with a big heart for his country in the musical “Cory ng EDSA” was much-lauded. His big break came when he acted the role of Batik in Pitik Surplus.

cindy

CINDY LIPER’s baptism of fire was in the play Chi-Noi’. She continued to shine as a stage actress as a nurse in ‘Lieutenant’s Princess’, followed as one of the ladies of the court in ‘O’Moises’, and eventually became a geisha in ‘Pinoy Samurai’. Her stage acting credits inlude ‘Desaparecidos’, ‘Namaste’, ‘San Vicente, A Zarzuela’, ‘Troy Avenue’, and ‘Enzo… Santo’, ‘Ang Bangkay’ and ‘Stars’, She got nominated twice as Best Actress in Aliw Awards portraying the role of Cory in ‘Ako si Ninoy’ and reprising it in ‘Cory ng EDSA’. Her most recent accolade was winning the Best Actress in the Broadway World Philippines Awards for her performance as Oryang in ‘Ang Bangkay’. In ‘Joe’ she played the feisty researcher, Joanne.

cherry

CHERRY BAGTAS is currently taking up Marketing at Jose Rizal University. As an actress she began her career as Lorenza in Chinoi and got noticed as Faridah in ‘The Lieutenant’s Princess’ and as Lally in ‘Desaparecidos’ respectively. She landed a major role in ‘Namaste’ when she played Kasturba the wife of Gandhi and Andromache in ‘Troy Avenue’. To further elevate her acting skills, she took on more daring and challenging roles as Yvon in Babae po Ako, Ivy in Ako si Ninoy, Oryang in the dark and mysterious multi-awarded and critically acclaimed Vincent M Tanada’s ‘Ang Bangkay’, and was the eldest daughter of the late beloved president Cory Aquino, Ballsy in ‘Cory ng EDSA’. For Joe, she gave life to the character of Julia.

adelle

ADELLE IBARRIENTOS,a senior regular stager was Ka Upeng in ‘Enzo…Santo’, Dolores in ‘Chi-Noi’ and Samira in ‘Lieutenant’s Princess’. She also essayed the roles of Ziporah for ‘O’ Moises’, Lara in ‘Desaparecidos’, Saishin in ‘Pinoy Samurai’, Isabel in ‘Ang Bangkay sa Corintho’. During the 8th season she starred as Sarin in ‘Namaste’, Madam de Gondhi in ‘San Vicente, A Zarswela’, Helen in ‘Troy Avenue’, Ms. Nuñez / Ivy for ‘Ako si Ninoy’, Miding in ‘Ang Bangkay sa Corintho’. She acted in various summer plays such as Sayong in ‘Lahug’, Lupe in ‘Pest to Pest’, Diana in ‘I Heart Me’ and France in ‘Mang Hangs Restaurant’. She was Elsie in ‘Cory ng Edsa’ and the fashionista Julia in ‘Joe A Filipino Rock’sical’.

jordan

JORDAN LADRA was nominated as Best Actor in Aliw Awards for his portrayal of the role Noli in the musical play ‘Ako si Ninoy’. He is a PSF Thumbs Up Awardee (2009 & 2010).He became a facilitator of the Annual Summer Workshop when he graduated from PSF Acting Workshop in 2007. Onstage he played a Support Actor in ‘Pinoy Samurai’ as Tetsugaku, Putri in ‘Namaste’, Padre Bordaise in ‘San Vicente’ and Lazaro in ‘Enzo Santo’. He also did the lead roles of Hector in ‘Troy Avenue’, Greg in ‘Desaparecidos’ , Lemuel in ‘Bangkay sa Corintho’, Erwin in ‘4C’ (The Sack), Olivio in ‘4C-II’ (Felipa) and Lykah in ‘4C-III’ (OLAH). Behind the stage , he wrote plays in PSF’s Annual Theater fest such as Babae Po Ako, Si Adan at Si Eba and I Heart Me. Last season he portrayed the two equally challenging characters, Bimbo and Hunter in ‘JOE’.

art

ART GABRENTINA garnered the Best Lighting Design award at the 2012 Broadway World Awards. Com Philippines for his work in Joe a Filipino Rock’sical. He started as a production assistant in the play ‘Mactan 1521’ and ‘Enzo..Santo’. Eventually he was given bigger respons-ibilities to handle the Sound Spinning for the plays ‘Chi-Noi’, ‘O’Moises’, ‘Desaparecidos’ and ‘Troy Avenue’. In the play ‘Namaste’ he took on a bigger challenge as he did Sound Spinning and Stage Management at the same time. Since 2009 he became the technical director and lighting designer for all the Productions of PSF to date.

kevin

KEVIN POSADAS is one of the most versatile actors of Philippine Stagers Foundation. He was part of various PSF productions like ‘O’Moises’, ‘Chi-noi’, ‘Lieutenant’s Princess’, ‘Pinoy Samurai’, ‘Namaste’, ‘Desaparecidos’ and ‘4C-2’. Lately he began taking in bigger roles as Menelaus in ‘Troy Ave’., Padre Vicente in ‘Enzo Santo’, and alternated as Ninoy in the re-run of ‘Ako Si Ninoy’. As a performer he is never afraid to take on challenges to improve his craft that is why when he was offered to do the role of the cross-dresser entertainer named Asiah in Japan in OLAH. In ‘Cory ng EDSA’ he played the role of Jason. He alternated last year for the role Joecas in Joe A Filipino Rockssical.

chin

CHIN ORTEGA is a pioneering member of the company. His diverse roles include the Babaylan in ‘Mactan 1521’, Mang Temyong in ‘Desaparecidos’, Lao Shi Tong in ‘Chi-Noi’, Kyo in ‘Pinoy Samurai’, Mr. Patel in ‘Namaste’, Priam in ‘Troy Ave’, Nanding in the musical ‘Ako si Ninoy’, and ‘Sakakibara’ in the critically-acclaimed ‘Enzo… Santo’. He also did challenging roles in other PSF’s plays. He was a standout as Mindy in ‘Cory ng EDSA’ and Ambo in ‘Joe, A Filipino Rock’sical’.

jp

JP LOPEZ played the role of Padre Balaguer in the controversial ‘Joe’. In ‘Cory ng Edsa’ he worked on the technical side as the production’s sound spinner. He made remarkable performances as Col. Agustin in ‘Ako si Ninoy’, Padre Domingo in ‘Enzo… Santo’, Cardinal Mazarin in ‘San Vicente a Zarzuela , Adonis in “‘Si Adan at si Eba’ and Floran in‘Ang Papeng ni Kiko’ to name a few. Offstage he was the stage manager in the various competing plays during the PSF Theater Festival. As a playwright, he wrote the plays Geymshow, Stars and Tang Na Mo Funeral Parlor. He also facilitates acting workshops.

jerie

JERIE SANCHEZ started as a chorus girl in various PSF productions,which led her to do character roles with different age range such as Margarita in ‘Enzo… Santo’ and a nun in ‘Cory ng EDSA’. To enhance her talent she participated in various summer productions such as Lola in ‘I Went to My Funeral’, Inang Mother in ‘Kung Hei Batsoy’, Juday in ‘Stars’, and as one of Jose Rizal’s sisters, Narcisa in ‘Joe A Filipino Rockssical’.

D’rotsen (the one holding the knife) Etolle in a significant scene in PSF’s latest play “Bonifacio: Isang Sarsuwela” (also in the picture: daryl cajucom and vince tanada) photo credits: mr. bourne legacy

DE’ ROTSEN ETOLLE graduated from the PSF Summer Workshop in 2011. He played the role of Ninoy during their recital, from the musical ‘Ako si Ninoy’. Since then he was called back to join PSF. He is part of the chorus for the plays ‘Cory ng EDSA’, ‘Ako si Ninoy’ and ‘San Vicente A Zarzuela’. In the PSF Theater Festival he played the role of Eagle in Pitik Surplus and Moksha in Tang Na Mo Funeral Parlor. He was Mr. Aldeguer in Joe A Filipino Rock’sical.

daryl

DARYL CAJUCOM was among the 3 graduates in the PSF’s annual summer workshop in 2011. This is his third season for the company. He became part of the chorus for the plays ‘San Vicente a Zarzuela’, ‘Ako si Ninoy’,‘Cory ng EDSA’ and ‘Joe, A Filipino Rock’sical’.

gerald

GERALD MAGALLANES was a former member of the Ramon Obusan Dance Company prior to his joining PSF. He started out as part of the chorus of ‘Ako si Ninoy’ and ‘San Vicente’. Later he was assigned as one of the production staff for ‘4C-1’, ‘4C-2’, ‘4C-3’, ‘Enzo Santo’ and ‘Bangkay sa Corintho’. In 2011 he was with ‘Cory ng EDSA’, and in 2012 he was with ‘Joe A Filipino Rocks’ical.

Next time you watch a stage play, try to look for these great theater performers and cherish them. After all, they’re certainly one of the best things that could happen in the local theater scene now!

Our fathers are the main reasons why our memories becomes vivid, clear and vibrant. They are the reasons why we existed, and why we continue to exist. In the heart of one young boy, a father is all he ever wanted. But when a father has gone somewhere and left us, we have no other choice but to ACCEPT.

Here is one very simple literary piece, written by the youngest son of the late great film director, Celso Ad Castillo. It will touch your hearts, the same way it did touch mine. My tears fell as I read it. And I suddenly miss my friend- direk Celso.

Wherever you are now, direk Celso, I offer these great loving words of your son to you. The words written below were precisely his words, direk Celso. Read below now! (by sssip).

the late celso ad castillo: a father first, then a husband, being a director comes-in third, and being a friend- is the fourth.A CHARCOAL PAINTING OF THE LATE GREAT FILIPINO FILM DIRECTOR- CELSO AD CASTILLO, AS DRAWN BY HIS YOUNGEST SON, CELSOKID CASTILLO III.celsokid castillo III: looks up… for his dad.

Thoughts on Celso Advento Castillo: “A SON REMEMBERS A GREAT DAD (from celsokid castillo III’s own words on how he remembers his dad, the late celso ad castillo…)”

celso’s kid!the very mabait & loving wife of the late celso ad: mrs. ofhelia castillodirek celso: a smile from heavencelso kid, jr. joins his older step brother, director christopher ad castillo at the cinemalaya events a few months ago, as he mingles with the likes of vilma santos and other film celebrities.

Jazz fans can’t ask for anything more when jazz artists from all over the world gather and create rhythm, music and starlight at the 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival on September 17-22 at various venues of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Featuring more than 100 artists and 15 bands from the Philippines, USA, Europe and Asia, the 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival will offer performances of jazz music in all its styles, from the big band, swing, blues, fusion and experimental.

The 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival also features workshops and lectures on the various jazz genres.

Various venues of the CCP will be used for the festival. The CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo will feature performers and groups whose production and equipment set-up would call for a larger stage and expected audience size, while the Silangan Hall will cater to jazz aficionados who prefer a more intimate setting. In addition, partnerships with some hotels enable some of the Festival performers to provide a sampling of their expertise in these venues.

The 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival, CCP President Raul Sunico said, is a recognition of the jazz genre as a major style of musical creativity through improvisation as well as the distinct theories in its harmonic, scalar, and rhythmic components that are both appealing and inviting to the listener.

“The global attraction of jazz has reached a wide spectrum of enthusiasts including Asia where its own brand of Eastern and ethnic music seems to fuse well with its style,” Sunico said. “Through the Festival, CCP hopes to bring the Philippines into the mainstream of global jazz activity and make it a legitimate and recognized venue for International Jazz Festivals.”

Another objective the CCP hopes to achieve thorough the CCP Jazz festival, according to Sunico, would be to create a harmonious relationship among the country’s jazz figures and groups.

“With the establishment of so many of these ensembles, it is imperative for the CCP to provide a prestigious venue for our talents to perform and be discovered, to play and to listen, to seek a camaraderie with which to collaborate with other groups, and to help propagate this wonderful musical genre for everyone to enjoy,” Sunico said.

In August 2011, the CCP held its first international jazz festival billed The Story of Jazz: 1st CCP International Jazz Festival. It featured more than 150 jazz musicians from all over the world in a series of performances and lecture-workshops.

For more tickets and information, please call the CCP Box Office at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1409 and direct line 832-3704 and visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph